Looking for some buddies - ttc #1

[Desire2Mom]

Amanda - happy birthday! Sounds like this month is keeping you busy!

 

[Bloblo]

After a relaxing cycle with a record amount of bd... af showed up without warning!
This brings be to cycle 12 of trying... I am out of ideas so guess I better find a doctor who can help.

 

[CheshireDucky]

Amanda: Happy (early) birthday! Sounds like you're going to have a fun filled month which hopefully keeps away the stress and lets you enjoy everything.

Desire: Let us know how the US goes! Hoping everything is right for you to move forward once again.

Blo: So sorry to hear about AF. Good luck finding a doctor, hope they can give you some insight going forward.

AFM: Decided to keep temping but missed a day due to antibiotic making me feel sick. I'm having the best EWCM right now, the best I've had since starting TTC. I have my first follow-up appointment with the doctor on Friday to check to make sure the little balloon thing is doing its job and if it is since I'm tolerating it, I'll keep it in for another week and then can get back to TTC. Frustrating but will be worth it if it works.

 

[EmilyIGF]

Hey all, I've been silently stalking for a while, so sorry this will be long!

Happy - any news, did af come? Have you started charting yet?

Chshire - I am so sorry you had to re-do the procedure. You must feel so frustrated, but it sounds like your attitude is spot on - as long as it works it will be worth it. Stay strong.

Amanda - I love your attitude, fingers crossed for July. I think we will be O buddies? I'm due to O around the 16th. Happy early birthday!

Meep - Sorry about the SA, that must be difficult to hear. I have some advice about the fertility clinic: Obviously we are all in different situations, but make sure you ask about IUI and IVF success rates. DH and I initially leaned towards IUI for affordability, but were shocked to learn that success rates are pretty poor compared with IVF (10-15%/cycle vs 50%/cycle). So even though it's double the price where we live, we figured IVF would be more 'bang for buck', so to speak, since we might not require as many cycles to fall pregnant. As I said, your situation may be vastly different, it's just good to ask. As for BBT, my pre- and post-O temps are usually similar to what yours have been, but my blood tests at 5DPO showed a nice strong progesterone level, so don't lose hope. It could have nothing at all to do with hormones and be completely environmental.

Blo - Welcome back! Sorry about af, but well done on the bd effort. Seeking answers from a fertility doc can be stressful (especially waiting for results), so we're here for you.

Desire - good luck with the US, I will be crossing my fingers for a good outcome for you on the 11th.

AFM - Second appointment with the fertility doc was promising. AMH is 94, which is very high and concerns me. I don't really know what it means but the doc did not seem concerned. We've been advised to try naturally for another 3-4 cycles before considering treatment, since PCOS tendencies seem to be the only issue and the doc is optimistic about our chances. Good news!! So why no baby??

This is so petty but I just found out 2 of my friends and another acquaintance are pregnant. Every time this happens, I can't really call it jealousy, but I do feel kind of happy and sad at the same time. Then after a couple of days adjusting it turns to full on happy-for-them. Anyone else get that feeling? I always feel so guilty for not feeling immediately elated for my friends, even though I want to.

 

[MeepMeepHP]

Blo - sorry to hear AF got you again!

Emily - thanks so much for your suggestions! I will definitely ask about success rates. I'm being referred to Boston IVF and I have no idea what they charge but general prices I found online was like 500-1k for IUI vs 10-15k for IVF, hence I thought we'd have to start with IUI. What kind of prices were you quoted?

AFM - AF arrived earlier this week. I was a little hopeful because my temps spiked much higher than usual this cycle, but it must have been the hot weather. My gyn left me a voicemail about DH's SA saying "low motility is very easy to overcome," I hope that's the case! My first appointment at the fertility clinic is end of July.

ETA: Upon closer look at my policy, it appears IUI/IVF is covered after I pay 20% - huzzah!

 

[EmilyIGF]

general prices I found online was like 500-1k for IUI vs 10-15k for IVF, hence I thought we'd have to start with IUI. What kind of prices were you quoted?

We're fairly lucky in Australia in that our medicare covers a majority of the cost for either procedure if you have a referral - we're looking at around $1k for IUI or $2.5k for IVF out of pocket.

 

[AmandaGAC]

This will be long! Catching up from a forum vacation.

Blo - So sorry about AF! Fingers crossed for you that this is your month!

Desire - Keep us posted after your apt tomorrow!

Ducky - Sounds like you're having a bit of luck with the balloon thing. Did you decide to keep it in for another week?

Emily - I know exactly what you are talking about. You are happy for them, but sad that it's not you at the same time. I totally get it. FF is predicting O Monday - Wednesday of next week.

Meep - So sorry about AF!

AFM - Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! I wanted to take a break from the forums after AF got me this time. DH surprised me with an hour long professional massage on Friday for both of us, he then took me for lunch and to see the new Spider-Man movie (although, that last was probably more for him. ). Saturday we had dinner with my family and good friends. Yesterday, I went to a baby shower for my cousin and his girlfriend. I tried not to be completely depressed as she was opening all the cute little girl clothes but my heart was heavy. I'm happy for them, but I'm also so bummed it's not me. Trying to stay positive for July. Lots of things to keep me busy and occupied this month, so FXed that I get that BFP.

 

[AmandaGAC]

I also started drinking red rasperry leaf tea. Does anyone else drink that? I heard that it's supposed to ease your cramps and shorten AF's visit time.

 

[EmilyIGF]

Amanda, I'd heard of people using red raspberry leaf for pregnancy symptoms, but never heard of using it for ttc. I just checked it out and it looks great! More importantly though, how does it taste? I tried out maca root powder but found it unpalatable, so I switched to tablets. I can't say I've noticed anything different, but it's early days.

I will probably O around Monday.

 

[Bloblo]

No time for a proper update now, just wanted to say Emily and Amanda - we will be o buddies, i am also scheduled to o around Monday. Will see if the b6 ive been taking changes that though...

 

[Nuthatch]

I am the absolute worst about lurking and not replying, but i just wanted to say i will probably o around monday as well! Most of my tww will be spent driving cross country.

 

[AmandaGAC]

Emily - It's actually pretty good. I put a squeeze of lemon in mine and I've also heard about others putting honey in it as well. It doesn't taste bad at all. It reminds me of a plain green tea.

Blo - Awesome! Keep us posted!

Nut - That sounds like fun! Is it business/pleasure?

 

[Desire2Mom]

Blo - I'm sorry to hear of your struggles!

Nut - me, too! I'm terrible with replying, but I read everything.

Meep - Sorry about AF, she's a giant B GL with the fertility specialist! That's awesome about your insurance coverage, too!! I got the bill for my last 3 cycles and found out my US have been covered because of my cyst!

Emily - That's awesome coverage for the IVF! I only pay around $500 total for each cycle of IUI, but I'm dreading the cost of IVF if it goes that far.

Amanda - glad you had a great birthday!! Positive thoughts for July!

AFM: US went great! Huge cyst is gone, but it is polycystic just like the right one. I'm starting 150 mg of Clomid on Friday and, as long as I get a positive OPK, I'm doing another IUI this cycle!

 

[AmandaGAC]

Desire - Awesome news that the cyst is gone! Good luck on your Clomid. FXed for positive OPK and an IUI.

 

[EmilyIGF]

Amanda, Nuthatch and Bloblo - how cool that we might be synced up this cycle. I'm glad to not do the 2ww alone. Fx this is our month!

Desire - congrats on the good outcome! Sending lots of babydust your way

 

[CheshireDucky]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here lurking. I love reading everyone's updates and have my fingers crossed for everyone still.

I got my crosshairs this morning which is just weird knowing nothing happened this cycle. The antibiotics definitely messed with my temps but that's okay. Almost to the end of my two weeks with my little balloon buddy.

I learned a lot about my body and how it works during these two weeks so I'm really glad I went through this. Looking forward to next cycle, though!

 

[Bloblo]

I went to obgyn yesterday (a new one). Really just wanted to get checked since its 3 months after mc. Asked her for referral to fertility clinic or whether she can do any testing to see why this is taking so long... (this is 12th cycle)
Basically she refused. Said there cannot be anything wrong since I was pregnant. Said to come back if I am not pregnant in April 2018.
I guess I expected something - I would like to at least do some tests to confirm that my hormones are doing what they are supposed to do...
She didn't even ask me if i have regular cycles and she doesn't know that i temp and use opk. She just said I should bd. That was her only advice.

I guess its good that she thinks im fertile, but i cant help but think that she is really just lazy and disinterested in me. Bleh! Rant over...

 

[EmilyIGF]

I would like to at least do some tests to confirm that my hormones are doing what they are supposed to do...

Bloblo that sucks! I'm really sorry you had to experience that. It really bothers me when doctors assume they know everything when you haven't told them everything. Are they psychic?? Ugh.

Anyway, maybe there are other avenues you could try? I don't know how it is in Germany, but when we started investigating fertility, my GP was able to order blood hormone tests and SA and get those results for me. Maybe you could try a regular GP? That way if it red flags anything, you will get your referral, and if it doesn't, you can rest a bit easier.

 

[AmandaGAC]

Blo - Ugh! So sorry that you had to go through that. I hate going to new doctors and it's worse when they seem so disinterested in you. Hoping that you can try some other avenues like Emily suggested! That really sucks.

 

[Desire2Mom]

I'm so sorry Blo! That is terrible of the OB to brush you off like that. I agree, maybe a GP can help you get started with tests and at least start having documented reproductive issues. They may not be a specialist, but they might still be able to help. My fertility doc allowed self-referrals, but my GP also sent a referral in for me. I wish you the best of luck!